Tabitha Moses: Investment

As part of her award for the Liverpool Art Prize 2013, Tabitha Moses presents a solo exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery. Investment is a continuation of the work presented at the Liverpool Art Prize exhibition at the Albert Dock in 2013, exploring her experience of infertility and IVF. For the Walker exhibition she has created a series of portraits of a selection of patients from the Hewitt Fertility Centre with hand-embroidered hospital gowns which feature traditional and non-traditional symbols of fertility. Fabric and stitch are central to Tabitha’s practice and through the language of textiles Tabitha uncovers rich connections and latent emotions. Following conversations, research and the memories of her own experiences, she gathered information about the things people use to help them conceive and embroidered them, in colourful cotton and decorative line, onto gowns worn during IVF treatment. Amongst other symbols and illustrations, the gowns feature mandalas of items of jewellery, a tattoo, fertility goddesses, and a pair of lucky knickers, alongside syringes and empty medical bottles. The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of artists talks and workshops at the Walker Art Gallery and Metal at Edge Hill Station, organisers of the Liverpool Art Prize.

Thursday 16 October 6pmFruitful Infertility: A talk by Dr Rebecca Baillie about Investment and Tabitha’s work more generally, followed by a vegetarian supper, at Metal, Edge Hill Station.

Saturday 15 November & Saturday 6 December 11amFertile Minds with Tabitha Moses and Rebecca Sharp, creative workshops at Metal, Edge Hill Station for people with experience of assisted conception

All events are free.

An exhibition catalogue featuring Dr Jane Webb’s essay and writing by Tabitha Moses, Jon Barraclough and Kate Brian is available in the Walker Art Gallery shop.

Tabitha MosesTabitha Moses makes work about people; she likes to tell the stories of the overlooked and aims to do it with sensitivity and eloquence. She enjoys exploring art, crafts, cooking and gardening with people of all ages,. Tabitha has worked with residencies and galleries in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Poland, Greece and across the UK. She lives in Liverpool with her husband, daughter and two cats.

Jenni JonesFertility Food and Yoga Taster Session
Join Jenni Jones and Tabitha Moses to explore the ways in which yoga and nutrition can help prepare the body for natural or assisted conception. You will be guided through gentle stretches and breathing before making and enjoying superfood smoothies and salads.
Jenni Jones teaches pregnancy, fertility, post-natal and baby yoga at Yoga Bumps and Babies. She is also a trained doula and naturopath. Her passion is helping women to prepare positively for the birth which is right for them.

Dr Rebecca BaillieDr Rebecca Baillie is an artist, freelance writer, curator and member of the network MaMSIE (Mapping Maternal Subjectivities, Identities and Ethics) based at the Department of Psychosocial Studies, Birkbeck University, London. MaMSIE creates spaces for interdisciplinary conversations about motherhood and the maternal more broadly. Join us for a reflection on Tabitha Moses’ exhibition, Investment – along with an exploration into the artist’s work more generally – to consider the notion that common experiences of miscarriage and infertility are rarely represented in art. The work of Frida Kahlo, Tracey Emin, Lorraine Clarke, Elina Brotherus and Ana Casas Broda – artists who share an interest in origin and loss – will be mentioned in support and comparison.
Rebecca’s talk will be followed by delicious food and hearty discussion.

Rebecca Sharp –Fertile Minds: creative workshopsTabitha Moses and Rebecca Sharp will lead three days of creative play using poetry and visual art techniques to explore participants’ experiences of assisted reproduction. No previous art or writing experience necessary.

Rebecca is a writer, artist and educator whose work in poetry, performance and prose can be seen through a series of acclaimed projects incorporating visual art, film, music and sound art. She has worked with a variety of community groups to explore identity, boundaries and the power of words, often in collaboration with other artists. She is based in Fife and works nationally and internationally. Rebecca was artist-in-residence with Metal in 2009-2010 and lived in Liverpool for ten years.

Kate Brian – catalogue

Kate Brian is a writer and journalist who specialises in fertility. She has written four books about the subject, including The Complete Guide to IVF, is Editor of the Journal of Fertility Counselling and London Representative of the charity Infertility Network UK. Her blog, Fertility Matters, gives information, advice and support to anyone who is having difficulty getting pregnant.

Dr Jane Webb – catalogue

Dr Jane Webb is Director of Studies for Design at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has an interest in the relationship between writing and making; re-examining and challenging the nature of research through the production of textual and material outcomes.